Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur likely to become minister soon, CM Sukhu hints

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Shimla, August 11

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has once again hinted that Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur is likely to be inducted into the state Cabinet. Sukhu said a Cabinet expansion would take place soon, as soon as the party high command gives its approval.

After flagging off 46 quick response vehicles for the Fire Services Department in Shimla, the Chief Minister also took aim at the BJP on several issues.

Sukhu said the Cabinet expansion could happen at any time after approval from the high command. Giving another indication about Thakur’s induction, he said the Kullu MLA could take the oath as a minister at any time. He added that Thakur could even be sworn in before the Himachal Pradesh Congress Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting.

On the issue of notices being issued to apple growers for selling more than 100 bags of apples under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), Sukhu said the government had not imposed any limit on the quantity of apples that could be purchased under the scheme.

He said growers could sell more than 100 bags of apples under MIS and added that the government had ordered a halt to the issuance of notices to growers. No farmer would be harassed, he said. If there was any clerical mistake in the notices, it would be corrected, Sukhu added.

On the election for the Shimla Zila Parishad president and vice-president, the Chief Minister targeted the BJP, saying the government would comply with the High Court’s directions and the election date would be fixed accordingly.

Sukhu said BJP members had failed to attend when the election date was previously announced and had instead gone to Panchkula outside the state.

He said BDC and Zila Parishad members were of little importance, describing Panchayati Raj elections as “chulha-chauka” (kitchen-level) elections and saying there was no need for excessive interference in them. He alleged that the BJP was unnecessarily focusing on these elections.

Sukhu said that the BJP had announced 256 candidates for the Zila Parishad elections, of whom 116 won, while the Congress had not announced a single candidate. Despite this, he said, more Congress-backed candidates won posts.

He also pointed out that during the previous Jai Ram Thakur government, BJP-backed candidates had won Zila Parishad president posts in nine of the state’s 12 districts, yet the BJP failed to retain power in Himachal Pradesh in the subsequent Assembly elections.

On the Rs 1,500-crore assistance announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Himachal Pradesh following the disaster, Sukhu urged BJP leaders to meet the Prime Minister in Delhi before the Assembly session and press for the release of the funds.

Sukhu said the Prime Minister himself had announced the Rs 1,500-crore assistance and had also posted about it on social media, but the state had not received the money. He urged BJP leaders to go to Delhi and make efforts to secure the promised assistance in the interest of Himachal Pradesh.

The Chief Minister also said he would write to the Prime Minister seeking the release of the Rs 1,500 crore. He said the state had outstanding liabilities towards employees and that receiving financial assistance from the Center would help the government clear them.